Dial A Vet and Pawssum Launch Australia’s First Integrated Hybrid Veterinary Care Network
Australia’s veterinary landscape is undergoing a transformative shift with the announcement of a groundbreaking national partnership between Dial A Vet, the country’s fastest-growing veterinary telehealth platform, and Pawssum Mobile Vets, Australia’s largest and most trusted mobile veterinary service. Together, the two organisations are launching the nation’s first fully integrated online-to-in-home veterinary care pathway, a model designed to redefine how pet owners access veterinary support and manage their pets’ health.
This collaboration represents far more than a technological upgrade. It marks a pivotal moment for veterinary care—one that bridges the long-standing divide between virtual advice and physical treatment. For Australian pet owners, it promises a more seamless, less stressful, and far more accessible experience, delivered by the combined expertise of two leading innovators in the pet healthcare space.
A Partnership Built to Transform Veterinary Access
For years, pet owners have faced a familiar set of challenges: long wait times at clinics, difficulty securing appointments during peak periods, stress associated with transporting anxious pets, and accessibility issues for elderly owners or those living in underserved areas. Telehealth platforms have helped bridge part of that gap by offering immediate guidance, but the absence of seamless escalation to in-home services has remained a barrier—until now.
The partnership between Dial A Vet and Pawssum resolves this disconnect by creating a continuous, end-to-end care pathway:
- Immediate online triage and consultation, followed by
- A smooth escalation to in-home veterinary support whenever hands-on treatment is required.
In doing so, the model blends the convenience and speed of telehealth with the clinical assurance and comfort of in-home professional care.
How the New Hybrid Pathway Works
At the core of the collaboration is an integrated workflow designed to ensure that pet owners receive the right level of care at exactly the right time.
1. Instant Online Triage via Dial A Vet
Pet owners start by connecting with Dial A Vet’s veterinary telehealth team. This immediate access to expert advice helps owners understand whether an issue is mild, urgent, or requires a physical exam. Telehealth support can address concerns such as:
- Behavioural issues
- Skin irritations
- Digestive troubles
- Post-operative questions
- General anxiety, nutrition, or wellness queries
- Symptom evaluation
Rather than navigating uncertainty or attempting to self-diagnose, owners receive guidance from trained professionals within minutes.
2. Seamless Escalation to Pawssum Mobile Vets
If the telehealth veterinarian determines that the pet requires physical evaluation—whether diagnostics, medications, vaccinations, wound care, or palliative support—the case is passed directly to Pawssum’s national mobile vet network.
This handover eliminates the need for stressful clinic visits, especially for:
- Anxious or elderly pets
- Pets with mobility limitations
- Owners without easy access to transport
- Families seeking minimal-stress alternatives
The result is a system that offers true continuity: no repeated explanations, no fragmented records, and no unnecessary delays.
A First for Australia: The Fit-to-Fly Certification Pathway
One of the most innovative features of the partnership is the introduction of a new hybrid Fit-to-Fly certification pathway for pets travelling by air—a model poised to reshape how owners prepare for domestic or international pet transport.
The pathway integrates telehealth triage with mandatory in-person assessment:
- Initial Telehealth Consultation:
Owners begin the process through Dial A Vet, discussing behavioural factors, temperament concerns, anxiety management strategies, and any travel preparations needed. - In-Home Veterinary Visit:
A Pawssum veterinarian then visits the pet at home to conduct a comprehensive physical health examination, verify vaccination status, and provide the required Fit-to-Fly certification.
By starting the journey with telehealth and concluding with an at-home check, the pathway ensures that pets remain calm, comfortable, and stress-free—a stark contrast to the traditional process of multiple clinic visits, crowded waiting rooms, and unfamiliar environments.
For airlines, this model also provides a more streamlined workflow and greater confidence in the consistency of veterinary assessments.
Improving the Most Emotional Moments: Integrated End-of-Life Support
Perhaps the most compassionate component of the new hybrid network is the strengthened support system it brings to families navigating their pets’ end-of-life care. For many, these moments are among the most challenging experiences in pet ownership, and delays or stressful clinic visits can add unnecessary emotional strain.
Dial A Vet’s telehealth team now provides Quality of Life assessments, helping families better understand:
- Whether their pet is experiencing chronic pain
- How to interpret changes in behaviour or mobility
- When symptoms may indicate that end-of-life decisions are approaching
- What palliative care options may improve comfort
These conversations offer clarity and emotional support before any in-home decisions are made.
When the Dial time comes, Pawssum’s dedicated in-home end-of-life veterinarians provide gentle, unhurried euthanasia services in the peaceful environment of the family home. This eliminates the distress of transporting ill or elderly pets and allows owners the privacy and space to say goodbye with dignity.
The combined offering—from first telehealth consultation to final in-home farewell—ensures a compassionate, clinically guided experience that prioritises the emotional needs of both pets and their families.
Leadership Perspectives: A New Era for Veterinary Care
Both organisations emphasise that the partnership reflects a broader shift in how Australians want veterinary care delivered—one that is kinder, faster, and more accessible.
Josh Fidrmuc, CEO of Dial A Vet, highlighted the significance of this evolution:
This partnership marks a major step forward in the evolution of veterinary care in Australia. Pet owners want immediate answers and trusted support without long waits. By combining Dial A Vet’s online triage with Pawssum’s national in-home network, we are delivering a complete, modern care model that supports pets when and where they need it most.
Fidrmuc points to the modern pet owner’s expectations: real-time guidance, minimal disruption, and a care experience that fits around busy lifestyles while prioritising animal welfare.
Guy Sharabi, CEO of Pawssum, echoed this mission-driven approach:
At Pawssum Mobile Vets, every decision starts with the question: ‘How can we make veterinary care easier and less stressful for families and their pets?’ This partnership with Dial A Vet is a natural extension of that mission. By blending fast, expert telehealth with our trusted in-home veterinary service, we’re offering Australians a smoother, kinder way to access care from the first online question to the final treatment at home. It’s a major step forward for pets, owners, and the veterinary community.
Together, the two leaders underscore how the hybrid model empowers veterinarians as well as pet owners, helping create a more efficient care ecosystem that reduces pressure on clinics while delivering convenient, high-quality support.
A Model Designed for the Future of Pet Healthcare
The launch of Australia’s first hybrid veterinary care network signals a shift toward more progressive, personalised, and accessible pet healthcare. As telehealth continues to expand and demand for at-home services grows, the Dial A Vet–Pawssum partnership positions itself at the forefront of what many see as the future standard of veterinary care.
Key benefits of the hybrid model include:
- Reduced wait times and immediate expert advice
- Less stress for pets through in-home care
- Stronger support for anxious, elderly, or mobility-limited animals
- Improved continuity of care between digital and in-person services
- Enhanced options for travel preparation and certification
- Compassionate end-of-life services with privacy and comfort
With the rising number of pets in Australian households and increased expectations for convenient healthcare, the partnership responds to a clear and growing need.
The collaboration between Dial A Vet and Pawssum stands as a milestone for the veterinary profession in Australia—a shift toward integrated, flexible, pet-centered care. As the first of its kind in the country, the hybrid pathway is expected to influence future models of veterinary support, offering a blueprint for balancing technology with personalised clinical care.
For pet owners, it means better access, reduced stress, and a new level of continuity that puts the wellbeing of their animals at the center of every decision. For veterinarians, it introduces a model that optimises time, expands reach, and strengthens the support network available to families.
Together, Dial A Vet and Pawssum are creating a vision of healthcare that is modern, compassionate, and designed around the needs of pets and their people—delivering a seamless care journey from the very first online question to the final in-home treatment.
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